Iceflake Studios to Develop Cities Skylines After Split Between Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order

Colossal Order Parts Ways with Paradox Interactive: A New Era for Cities: Skylines

After a collaborative journey spanning fifteen years, Colossal Order is set to chart its own course, leaving behind the Cities: Skylines franchise. Going forward, Iceflake Studios—based in Finland—will assume the development responsibilities under the aegis of Paradox Interactive.

Official Announcement and Future Directions

This pivotal decision was revealed in a comprehensive forum post by Paradox Interactive, emphasizing that the split was made with careful consideration to benefit both parties and enhance the future of the Cities: Skylines brand.

“Development of the Cities: Skylines franchise will move to a different studio under Paradox Interactive’s leadership and Colossal Order looks forward to building on its experience across new projects and exploring new creative opportunities. Both companies are excited for what the future holds while remaining deeply appreciative of our shared history and grateful to the Cities community.”

Challenges and Community Reception

The launch of Cities: Skylines II in 2023 was marred by a critical shortage of content and notable performance glitches, leading to disappointment among fans. Despite Colossal Order’s prompt efforts to rectify these issues through a detailed roadmap, the game’s reception remains mixed, with user reviews on Steam indicating ongoing dissatisfaction.

This marked a significant transition for Colossal Order, which found its tenure with the franchise concluding after what many regarded as an underwhelming launch. Both Paradox and Colossal Order appeared ready for new leadership to rejuvenate the beloved series.

“Our partnership with Colossal Order is one of the longest-running relationships we’ve enjoyed here at Paradox. Four games, dozens of expansions, and a community of millions of Cities players; it’s remarkable how much we’ve achieved together, ”said Mattias Lilja, deputy chief executive officer at Paradox Interactive.

Looking ahead, Colossal Order will continue to support the game throughout 2025, rolling out further updates before officially stepping aside. Iceflake Studios will take full control in 2026, collaborating with Colossal Order to ensure a seamless transition. Notably, Iceflake will also handle the completion of the console version of the game, though updates regarding its release remain sparse.

Embracing the Future

Expressing excitement for the new challenges, Lasse Liljedahl, studio manager at Iceflake Studios, shared his eagerness to take the helm of this prestigious franchise:

“Taking the reins on a genre-leading franchise like Cities is an immense honor and a great responsibility. There’s a huge, loyal community out there and I want to say to every member of that community that we will humbly carry this legacy with respect, together with all of you. Iceflake has the capacity and capability to get started. We have a decade of experience from making city-building and management games. We see a strong foundation and so much potential waiting to be unleashed and I can’t wait to show you what we have planned for the next chapter of this incredible game.”

This significant shift not only marks the end of an era but also the dawn of new possibilities for the Cities: Skylines universe. As fans await future announcements, the gaming community remains optimistic about what Iceflake Studios will bring to the franchise.

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